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Muslims in Prison: A Case Study from Ohio State PrisonsJustice Studies, Kent State University, 113 Bowman Hall Kent, Ohio 44242 USA, nammar{at}kent.edu
Sociology and Anthropology, Youngstown State University, 1 University Plaza, Youngstown, Ohio 44555-3442 USA
Justice Studies, Kent State University, 113 Bowman Hall, Kent, Ohio 44242 USA The present study explores core issues related to the understudied population of Muslim inmates. Mail questionnaires were sent to the full-time chaplains employed by religious services in thirty Ohio state male prisons. The survey examines: (1) characteristics of Muslim inmates, (2) patterns of identification with Islam, (3) religious behavior inside the prisons, and (4) relations between conversion to Islam and crime committed. Our findings indicate that while the vast majority of Muslim inmates are African-American, they are otherwise similar to the incarcerated population in terms of age, education, and marital status. Most of the Muslims in our sample converted while incarcerated. The devotion of Muslim prisoners in the sample tends to be high as demonstrated by adherence to central religious practices. Finally, we found no relationship between crime and conversion to Islam inside prison. Although our data must be understood as tentative, it offers a basis for further investigation of this population of inmates.
Key Words: Muslims • prisons • conversion • Ohio
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 48, No. 4,
414-428 (2004) This article has been cited by other articles:
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